Straightforward synthesis of chemically ordered Pt3Co/C nanoparticles by a solid phase method for oxygen-reduction reaction

We developed a solid phase method to fabricate structurally ordered Pt3Co/C nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable component proportion as a high efficiency catalyst toward oxygen-reduction reaction. As a result, Pt3Co/C NPs exhibit high crystallinity with small average size and narrow size distribution. Moreover, the ordered Pt3Co/C NPs own enhanced ORR catalytic performance in acid. During the preparation process, the NaCl-matrix acts synergistically with carbon black as nanoreactors for Pt alloying with Co, avoiding serious sintering resulted by annealing at high temperature. Furthermore, other Pt-based NPs supported on carbon can also be prepared by this methodology.

Automated summary

A solid phase method was developed to fabricate structurally ordered Pt3Co/C nanoparticles with controllable component proportion, exhibiting high crystallinity, small size, and narrow size distribution. These nanoparticles showed enhanced catalytic performance for oxygen-reduction reaction in acidic conditions. Additionally, this methodology can be applied to prepare other Pt-based nanoparticles supported on carbon.